32 - The aircraft was still in motion here.
33 - Apologies for the jaundiced color here. I will correct it later this week. The night sky and placement of the flood lights worked against illuminating the top blue color against the background.
34 - Man in motion. The aircraft is stopped as another strides into the foreground.
35 - The ramp has been driven to the "front door on the second floor" and the presidential limousine, transported from Washington, DC to SPI in the nearby C-17 is in position. The VC-25A is known to air controllers and communications personnel as "Air Force One" when the President of the United States of America is aboard. There are three floors in this aircraft.
36 - Awaiting the appearance of President Obama. This was the scene for what seemed about 15 minutes as final arrangements were made. During this time, the national media reporters from networks, major newspapers, magazines exited the back bottom deck door behind the wing and boarded a retinue of wheeled vehicles for the trip to the banquet at Crowne Plaza Hotel. Once there, the reporters set up their equipment and where ready to "roll cameras" when the keynote speaker arrived.
37 - This gentleman stood by the limousine from its arrival next to Air Force One until he was cued to back it up to permit the President's easy access to it after greeting the assembled troops pictured on page one of this gallery.
38 - The tail number is part of a military serial identification number given to this airplane and no other in the world. A light in the fuselage illuminates the number and the "colors" of our national flag at all times when the airplane is powered up at night.
39 - The legs visible in this view suggest the person to whom they belonged was not involved directly with security, but was probably a party official. I will be happy to share more than supposition when a person who knows contacts me and sets the record straight.
40 - The President of the United States of America appeared solo and waved to the crowd as a cheer from the assembled troops swept through the airport like a peal of joy. His gesture was exquisitely moderate. This is not the wave to Mom and Dad as you ride the big float in your high school homecoming parade. It is not the salute shared with the military dedicated to the cause of freedom. It is meticulously well-considered and slick as a whistle in its delivery for a brief, affirming moment on the tarmac of Illinois' Capital City airport.
41- The President descending. Note the woman now visible in the back of the doorway behind him.
42 - President Obama is on concrete behind the limousine. Note the composure of the driver, eyes on the crowd, at ease with hands as they are in picture #37.
43 -
44 - There was no lingering as the President moved to "center stage" focused on the nearby troops.
45 - How many times have the new President and his staff rehearsed this? It was impressive as the dickens, and I could not believe I took this picture after I saw it later in the evening.
46 - A moment after the picture on the left was taken, the President changed direction abruptly to acknowlege the local media at the partition. One question rang out -- "Mr. President, how does it feel to be back in Springfield?" -- but the chief executive responded qfuietly if at all. Note the stance of the gentleman extreme left here, looking as though he's participating in a sprint -- which in a way he is. The gentleman in front of the President is clearly all business; just as he should be.
47 - The former Illinois State Senator extends his right arm to shake the hand of a reporter. BRAVO, Mr. President!
48 - This is the woman who stood so long wtih the highly decorated US Marine early in the evening.
49 - A TV reporter interviews another military official.
50 - After the motorcade had departed the immeidiate area for the Crowne Plaza, I was permitted to leave the media apace and take more photographs.
51 - More reporter action. Floodlights remained on thoughout the final moments I was there and probably until the President returned and departed Springfield.
52 -
53 - This is the bottom deck front entry, complete with built-in stairway.
54 -
55 -
56 - Twenty minutes after the motorcade departed, there was still plenty of activity. Media assembled here for the arrival were concerned only with the arrival. Other reporters covering the President's speech at Crowne Plaza were there and set before the his aircraft touched down on Runway 22.
57 - Okay, kids, say CHEESE. This picture is about more than the people. It's about Mom's shadow too.
58 - The silence that permeated this scene was the richest silence I have experienced at this fantastic airport.
59 -
60 - Late into my visit, personnel removed the steel partitions, permitting this vinal picture.
61
- Unknown to most folks on hand that night (including me), this Sikorsky VH-60
"White Hawk" which is technically "owned" by the White House and flown
and maintained by US Marine Corps Squadron HMC-1 was hangared, ready to fly at the
Illinois ANG hanger by the C-17. When the President of the USA is aboard, the helicopter
is known as "Marine One." Thanks to Tim Franke and photographer Bob Gonterman
for sharing this picture and giving permission to post it here. 
62 - Your humble reporter poses for a picture near the end of a fantastic engagement. I felt like Grizzly Adams and Walt Whitman combined in that facial hair. If I am ever engaged in another opportunity to work with DC people, I swear there won't be a hair on my face couth of my ears. Thanks to the security gentleman for taking this picture.
63 - When I returned to my car, I encounted a customer at Landmark Aviation, the nearby fixed base operator, exiting the office as a Gulfstream IV (owner unknown) graced the quiet ramp.